Meet the Philippes: A family of athletes

An athlete needs a lot of factors to fall in place to make it big. They live in a precarious world where an accidental injury one day might derail their career trajectory, or worse, bring it to a complete halt. On the flip side, a freak injury to someone, or a personal commitment might open up a spot and opportunity might come knocking at any moment. Choosing such a profession where the line between success and failure might be nanometers thin, the importance of family becomes invaluably important. Well, for Joshua Ryan Philippe, the support would have been in abundance.

While Joshua Philippe was tearing apart bowling attacks in the Big Bash League, his twin sister Emma Philippe was making her own mark in the sporting world. Emma Philippe plies her trade as a 400m hurdler. Emma, who shared a pod with Joshua, has also represented Australia in the World Youth Championships and World Under 20 Championships as a pole vaulter.

If one was to already be in wonder of the Philippe family genes, there is more to come. The Philippe twins’ mum Leanne opened the batting for Western Australia in the 1986/87 season, while their dad Steve coached the same team, Western Fury for five years having played for Western Australia’s second XI. 

Having such an incredible family might come across as a blessing, but Joshua has to bear the brunt of embarrassment. The competitive nature of the twins’ duels meant Joshua had a hard time playing in the backyard. “It’s quite complicated because I know the things I can beat her at and she knows the things she can beat me at. So we never really had much of a fair contest in anything we did,” Josh says.

Those of us who have played any form of cricket have all been there. Constant nightmares about an embarrassing moment on the field which our friends and siblings never let us forget. The Philippe household is no different. “She got me out once in backyard cricket and she reminds me about it all the time, but I still think I have her covered,” laments Philippe jovially. However, like any proud backyard cricketer, Philippe is not convinced his twin Emma was playing by the rules. “I think she bowled me but she chucks it so it was a no-ball – she definitely utilizes the 15 degrees.”

While having great genes is already a great starting point, hard work and a tonne of encouragement and support from the immediate family and friends goes a long way in the making of an athlete. While hitting “thousands and thousands of balls” is a sign of Josh’s dedication, the twins have each other’s back off the field as well. “Every now and then I get down (to the track), I try to whenever I can but the schedule recently has been pretty hectic so I haven’t been able to,” Josh says while adding that his Sister would be there for the Sydney Sixers’ massive Boxing day fixture against the team based out of the Philippes’ hometown, the Perth Scorchers, in an interview dating back to the Christmas day of 2019.

[The West Australian inputs]